There is some concern within GOP leadership that the movement could swell if Obama soon takes unilateral action to halt the deportation of undocumented immigrants. Congress will be out of session for all of August, and many lawmakers will be spending time with their constituents back home in their solidly conservative districts, with the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border simmering. These are not prime conditions for moderation…

“I don’t think it would be a problem getting a majority of votes out of the House” to impeach Obama, said a conservative House Republican. “But once it got to the Senate, it’s not going to go anywhere. … Not everybody is going to agree with this, but we got a lot on our plate right now of things we’ve got to fix immediately rather than doing some type of symbolic action.”

***

Chris Wallace of Fox News: Will you consider impeaching the president?

Scalise: This might be the first White House in history that’s trying to start the narrative of impeaching their own president. Ultimately, what we want to do is see the president follow the laws…

Wallace: If he overreaches again on executive action to defer more deportations, what will the House do?

In an interview with the conservative news site, he said Obama wants House Republicans to impeach him before the midterm election “because his senior advisers believe that is the only chance the Democratic Party has to avoid a major electoral defeat.”

***

Back in 1998, there was an intense internal debate among Republicans over how much to make the midterms about President Bill Clinton. The strategists who favored attacking the president won the day, but in the end their strategy didn’t work out. Now, there is an intense internal debate among Republicans over how much to make the 2014 midterms about President Barack Obama…

Democrats had successfully argued that Republicans were so obsessed with getting Clinton that they weren’t paying enough attention to the concerns of the American people…

Still, the GOP base is infuriated with Obama, particularly his abuse of executive power. And although Speaker Boehner has shown zero interest in the topic, a few Republican lawmakers are mentioning impeachment. Some party veterans worry that an Obama-focused midterm campaign will yield the same lackluster results as 1998.

Of course, Democrats would love to see Republicans blow their own chances. From the White House down to the party fundraising machine, Democrats have been trolling 24-7 in a transparent effort to goad Republicans into a self-destructive impeachment attempt. “They are desperate to reprise ’98,” says the GOP veteran of his Democratic adversaries. “Not just impeachment, but this whole idea that we’re going to make it all about the president again.”

***

“There is a rumor that the president, around Labor Day, may use executive action to legalize five million people who are here outside the law,” Gingrich said during a speech Tuesday, sponsored by the Young America’s Foundation. “And I think if they do it, it will be trying to provoke the Republicans to institute impeachment.”

Asked if Republicans should impeach Obama, Gingrich replied: “No.”

“It won’t succeed in impeaching Obama,” Gingrich said. “It’s the Democrats who want to talk about it because they raise money off of it.”…

After Pfeiffer made his comment about impeachment at a breakfast with reporters on Thursday, the Democrats’ congressional campaign arm sent out a series of e-mail pitches that cited impeachment — and pulled in $2.1 million in online donations, the best four-day haul of the current election cycle.

Democratic strategists also believe that a perceived threat to impeach the first African-American president will also give that crucial segment of the Democratic base an incentive to vote.

On Monday night, members of the Congressional Black Caucus spent an hour on the House floor railing against what they declared the “GOP march toward impeachment,” arguing that the pursuit of a lawsuit over Obama’s use of executive actions is just the first step toward an attempt at his removal.

***

“What else can we possibly do with this impeachment stuff?”
…
“I got it. Put circles around the letters." pic.twitter.com/tFiWpc5zEr

Boehner and other Republican leaders are now trying to walk an impossible tightrope. On one hand, they’re arguing that they have no interest in impeaching the president — they know that it would be a political catastrophe if they did — and any suggestion to the contrary is nothing but Democratic calumny. On the other hand, they’re arguing that Obama is a lawless tyrant who is trampling on the Constitution. If that contradiction has put them in a difficult situation, they have no one to blame but themselves…

According to a YouGov poll taken earlier this month, 89 percent of Republicans think “Barack Obama has exceeded the limits of authority granted a President by the US Constitution,” and 68 percent think there is “justification for Congress to begin impeachment proceedings against President Obama at this time.” Even when given a number of options including “President Obama has abused his powers as president which rise to the level of impeachable offenses under the Constitution, but he should not be impeached,” 63 percent still said he ought to be impeached. A CNN poll found a smaller number of Republicans saying Obama should be impeached, but still a majority of 57 percent.

So the idea that Boehner characterizes as a crazy Democratic slander is the majority position among Republican voters. And they didn’t get the idea from nowhere. They got it because the people they trust — Republican politicians and conservative media figures — have been telling them for years, but with particularly ferocity in the last few months, that Barack Obama is a lawless tyrant who is trampling on the Constitution. They’ve been hearing this not just from the Sean Hannitys and Steve Kings of the world, but from every Republican, up to and including the GOP congressional leadership, on a daily basis. Of course those Republican voters think he should be impeached. It’s absurd for people like Boehner to turn around and say, “Whoa now, who’s thinking of impeachment? That’s just Democrats saying that.”

***

We slipped off of the foundations of the Constitution a long time ago. The fact is, nearly half of the country still supports Obama and his policies including his lawlessness (to the extent that they even know about any of that), and the fact is, the politics of impeaching the nation’s first black president are so dire that they ought to force even Obama’s most ardent critics to think long and hard about the full implications of taking that step.

Nevertheless, the threat of impeachment ought to hang over the head of every president as a powerful disincentive to act outside his powers. Presidents are not kings; Congress should be able to remove them for lawbreaking. President Obama’s recent talk of impeachment, his party fundraising off of the made-up threat, his communications advisers playing that made-up threat for all it’s worth, have cornered Boehner. Impeachment no longer hangs over Obama’s head. He has taken that piece off the board…

Barack Obama has set up his final two years in the presidency to be a continuing series of constitutional wars and crises, in which he will never face the most potent constitutional weapon that could be used against him. A national leader who cares about the nation’s well-being would recoil from even the possibility of instigated such conflict for the country. But Barack Obama is not and has never intended to be a national leader. He leads his party and those who support him, and the rest of us are mere enemies to be punished.

***

I think we’re at the point where Obama is actively doing things he knows he has no power to do — because he wants Republicans to mount an effort to impeach him. That would be a political winner, since Americans are generally rationally ignorant of constitutional processes, and impeachment polls badly as a result. They don’t really care whether Obama exceeds his lawful authority if they like what he’s doing, and they see impeachment, not as a necessary Constitutional corrective, but as an irritation brought about by those stupid politicians who can’t get along. And Big Media tells us that when the two sides don’t get along, it’s usually the Republicans’ fault, and who are we to argue?

We get the government we deserve. The idea that the Constitution restrains the branches is pretty much dead; its provisions don’t matter when the public is unwilling to back the side whose territory is being infringed.

Andrew Jackson is famous for saying: “John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it.” Well, Barack Obama is saying: “Congress may have the ability to rein me in. Let’s see them do it.”

They won’t. And there goes the system of checks and balances. And what will the public do about it?

Breaking on Hot Air

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

Trackbacks/Pings

Comments

The problem is there would never be a single dim who would vote to impeach. It won’t happen.

Newt Gingrich said if Barry gives amnesty for 5 million (or whatever the number ends up being) illegals, the House should immediately pass a motion saying the move is unconstitutional. The idea would be to force it into the Senate’s hands and make dims take a stand one way or the other.

Dims still won’t agree, but let them be forced on to the record, particularly before the mid terms.

speculation is that Barry will do this very soon, in order to dare Rs to impeach.

cat_owner on July 30, 2014 at 2:57 AM

Of course there’s no way we’d win in the senate on impeachment. But it’s only to be considered if the trial somehow put the spotlight on Obama’s horrendousness and would lead to a GOP electoral boost. Unlikely though.

Have another 9/11 in some socialist backwater, like SF or LA, and see how fast it can be tied to zero and how quickly he gets impeached on violating immigrations laws with policies that are traced DIRECTLY back to his words and deeds…

It was about Clinton’s perjury, but the MSM helpfully at the time made it sound like a witch hunt against his adultery.

cat_owner on July 30, 2014 at 2:59 AM

The frustrating part about the Clinton impeachment attempt was that there were so many other things that deserved impeachment beyond anything to do with Lewinsky and Clinton’s lies about their relationship. Truly a rotten administration.

It’s time we did everything we can to purge out of the party those Republicans that voted for the Gang of 8 amnesty bill.

The biggest offender is Lamar Alexander.

Or I should say he is the only offender that has a primary. Alexander voted for the Rubio bill. And now Alexander takes a cue from the leftists by getting Orwellian and saying he “voted against amnesty” by voting for amnesty. No. Making an example now out of the betraying Alexander (who said he wouldn’t vote for amnesty) will hopefully to a large degree silence the Chamber of Commerce shills that keep calling for amnesty even in the face of this unprecedented border invasion.

Vote Alexander OUT of office on August 7th, and donate or blog or do whatever you can do in the last 9 days to help Joe Carr win. Here are couple of developments:

I think it would backfire. Remember a lot of Americans still get their ‘news” from NBC, ABC, etc. Either that or they listen to what their friends tell them.

There is no way this would get any fair media coverage at all. Rs would be painted as racists.

Plus, it would take the focus entirely off the many “phony scandals” going on.

I totally understand why people think he should be impeached. But for many reasons, it would have the opposite effect. He would be made into a martyr. There is a reason why Barry and dims want him to be impeached. It would help them.

Hi G2M. I thought impeachment required a super majority in both the House and Senate?
cat_owner on July 30, 2014 at 3:08 AM

Simple majority to pass the Articles in the House, Cat; 2/3 of the Senate (67 votes) is required to convict.

And then there’s this li’l Added Bonus:

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Plus, it would take the focus entirely off the many “phony scandals” going on.
I totally understand why people think he should be impeached. But for many reasons, it would have the opposite effect. He would be made into a martyr. There is a reason why Barry and dims want him to be impeached. It would help them.
cat_owner on July 30, 2014 at 3:12 AM

It sure would be nice to see his “Let ‘em impeach me!” blow up in his face, Cat…I’d definitely break out that bottle of Andre Champagne I purchased on 31 Dec 2008 but never cracked open… ;-)

how many votes did ACA get?…low 50 something ??
going2mars on July 30, 2014 at 3:15 AM

All Senate Dems and all House Dems (and one sadly confused *ahem!* R who resigned after a picture of him wearing a Tigger costume came to light…and then there were the mental issues…) voted for 404care, G2M.

Yeah, you and everybody else (as Fox and Boehner) are probably right on that count.

anotherJoe on July 30, 2014 at 3:17 AM

which is why I think the lawsuit..
be interesting to see how it plays out..
not sure I fully understand it yet..
but if successful, couldn’t you take apart
each over reach of executive powers one by one using the courts??

On a fun note though, I thought it was hilarious that dims were fundraising off the looney base, raising millions of dollars off the gullible morons. It does show that they know their base. :)
cat_owner on July 30, 2014 at 3:23 AM

Was that before or after the Triple Matching Donations went into effect? If AFTER, then the DNC/DNCC is in very serious trouble o_O

Hubs was a fan of Mariners and Sea Hawks when we lived in WA. You just sparked my memory that you live in Washington but I forgot whereabouts. We lived in Keyport and Bremerton many moons ago. I’ve always been a Giants fan. Caught a Willie Mays ball when they played the Cubs. Mom told me to hand it over to my male cousin. Should have done a girlie hissyfit to keep it, but I handed it over.

Go Joe Carr!! I see Mark Levin came out strongly in favor of him. Sure hope he wins.

He’s about our last hope, since I don’t think Milton Wolf is going to do it.

cat_owner on July 30, 2014 at 3:20 AM

Yeah, that’s big that Levin came out for him. Add that to Palin and Ingraham. And make sure you listen to Laura Ingraham’s Robocall because it really is quality as far as persuasiveness, and whether you’re young or older it should convince people to vote for Carr, though of course that one robocall is not the only factor in the election, lol.

Hubs was a fan of Mariners and Sea Hawks when we lived in WA. You just sparked my memory that you live in Washington but I forgot whereabouts. We lived in Keyport and Bremerton many moons ago. I’ve always been a Giants fan. Caught a Willie Mays ball when they played the Cubs. Mom told me to hand it over to my male cousin. Should have done a girlie hissyfit to keep it, but I handed it over.

31giddyup on July 30, 2014 at 3:38 AM

I live behind enemy lines in Seattle. Used to live in Kitsap. You should have kept the ball for sure.

I’m no fan of the MSM, but read the article and don’t see where it was smearing?

They didn’t accuse him of doing anything unethical. He mentioned that when he first decided to run, he couldn’t get anyone on board, and that it was natural to have family members involved in a campaign because of trust issues.

I’m no fan of the MSM, but read the article and don’t see where it was smearing?

They didn’t accuse him of doing anything unethical. He mentioned that when he first decided to run, he couldn’t get anyone on board, and that it was natural to have family members involved in a campaign because of trust issues.

I’ve read far worse articles than that.

cat_owner on July 30, 2014 at 4:05 AM

Yeah, but most people won’t read the article – they’ll just see the headline. And the newspaper knows that. That’s how they spread smears – the headline says “pays daughters campaign funds” then somewhere in the article they allow him to respond. No one sees that, though.

Senator Sessions is a breath of fresh air, standing strong for Conservative principles, which Moderates like Speaker of the House “Cryin’ John” Boehner give lip service to, before they stab their Conservative base in the back.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has cancelled plans for a “Southern Accent Reduction” class because of objections from lab staff members, some of whom said they were offended by the training opportunity.

ORNL’s human resources department early last week distributed a registration notice for the six-week course to be taught by Lisa Scott, “a nationally certified speech pathologist and accent reduction trainer.”

Here was the pitch to get employees to sign up for the speech rehab program: “Feel confident in a meeting when you need to speak with a more neutral American accent, and be remembered for what you say and not how you say it.”

The notice said the class would cover “some of the most common pronunciation and grammatical differences between Southern dialects and standard American English.”

It added: “In this course you will learn to recognize the pronunciation and grammar differences that make your speech sound Southern, and learn what to do so you can neutralize it through a technique called code-switching.”

Carolyn Ward of ORNL’s Learning and Development Services said the lab simply offered the class in response to an employee request. “We try to provide whatever requests we have,” she said.

ORNL spokesman David Keim said managers quickly cancelled the class after staff members complained.

“Given the way that it came across, they decided to cancel it,” Keim said. “It probably wasn’t presented in the right way and made it look like ORNL had some problem with having a Southern accent, which of course we don’t. That was not the intent at all.”

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has one of the region’s most diverse work populations, with employees from all parts of the United States and many different countries of origin, as well as visiting scientists from around the globe.

Good morning COL and day crew. Low this morning waws 57F….a new record low for this time of year. Been ignoring the fact that we have another teen driver this year and she is driving me nuts to buy her a Jeep of some kind. No, she will drive my tank of a truck and enjoy it! Three teens in one household all driving at the same time. What was I thinking! Eight cars on our car insurance policy? What was I thinking!

Geez, I am going back to bed and hide from fright as we gots a whole gaggle right behind the ones driving. What was I thinking. Four in college at the same time very soon? What was I thinking! Maybe I need to go to church or drink more beer. Beer, now that is a happy thought and good thinking on my part.

Here was the pitch to get employees to sign up for the speech rehab program: “Feel confident in a meeting when you need to speak with a more neutral American accent, and be remembered for what you say and not how you say it.”

workingclass artist on July 30, 2014 at 7:41 AM

Well bless their hearts!

I will say that I know somebody who ditched his Mississippi accent when he figured out that people automatically deducted 50 IQ points. That being said, I don’t know how in the hell they thought that this was a good idea.

I will say that I know somebody who ditched his Mississippi accent when he figured out that people automatically deducted 50 IQ points. That being said, I don’t know how in the hell they thought that this was a good idea.

Happy Nomad on July 30, 2014 at 8:03 AM

It’s all the fault of the Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction type programs and Ma and Pa Kettle before them. It gave people an impression that wasn’t true.